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Chapter 14

"It's hot."

I arrived. When I reached my destination, I was wiping away sweat. It was because I was wearing layers of clothing.

Anyway.

Where did I arrive? Of course, at my grandfather's house. General So's residence, which I had expected to be modest, surprisingly had a flamboyant door. It was a door that stood out even from ninety-nine steps away.

Of course, the scale was also large, and the materials used to build the house were all high-quality. It was a level that most noble families couldn't even dream of.

Compared to the main house of the Blood Cloud Fortress, it would bring tears to my eyes.

Of course, the one shedding tears should be the Blood Cloud Fortress Lord. But what could I do? With few taxes and constant battles, there was no way to avoid its shabby appearance.

I approached the mansion with Yoo Geung.

"It's impressive."

Maybe my grandfather and I had similar tastes.

Or maybe the mistress of this mansion decorated it. If so, I take back my words about having similar tastes with my grandfather. On second thought, it seemed more likely that it was the mistress's taste. I couldn't imagine my grandfather decorating the house.

If it were with Eunuch Han instead of Yoo Geung, I could have asked who the mistress of my grandfather's mansion was, but unfortunately, Eunuch Han was at Hyunjung Hall.

"Shall we go in?"

I swung both arms back and clasped my hands behind my back.

"Ahem."

Then I went close enough to the door that it almost touched my nose and shouted, "Someone come out!"

It was something I had always wanted to say at least once. I never had the chance while living as Baek Yeon, but I was fulfilling my wish in this unexpected way.

I heard footsteps from beyond the door. Soon, the door opened with a thud. The butler ran out so quickly that my nose almost hit the door, but I managed to dodge it in time, avoiding a collision.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh...!"

The butler popped his head out from between the open door. Our eyes met. He was a middle-aged man with a mole next to his nose.

"Y-Your Highness?"

The butler's eyes widened as he recognized me immediately.

"Your Royal Highness? First Prince Ikwon!"

"Yes, it's me."

He seemed quite surprised, as if I had come to a place I shouldn't have. Wasn’t the butler informed that I was coming? I lifted my chin slightly, and the butler quickly made way.

"Where's my grandfather?"

"Y-You've come to see the old master?"

He was definitely not as quick-witted as the palace staff.

I thought Eunuch Han might become the elite of the elite, the talent of talents among the butlers if he came here.

"Who else would I come to see at my grandfather's house?"

"I'll inform him right away!"

As I entered the gate and looked around slowly with my hands behind my back, I saw that the house, contrary to my expectations, showed signs of being lived in. Because it was the house of my grandfather, who was a General and cold hearted, I had thought it would be as desolate as a military camp.

Well, this was a place where people lived. My grandfather must also eat, poop, and sleep to function.

"Bodyguard Yoo."

I spoke to Yoo Geung, who had followed me in.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"What do you think of this house?"

Yoo Geung looked around and replied, "It's a magnificent mansion."

"I mean..."

No matter how many times I reconsidered, Yoo Geung was a truly dull individual. If I kept such a person as my bodyguard, I would become just as boring. This was yet another reason why Yoo Geung couldn't be of my use as a bodyguard.

"Seems like my grandfather has unexpectedly good taste, doesn't he?"

"With all due respect, I don't have a discerning eye..."

"Oh, come on."

The butler was staring at me as if to say, "Follow me." I quickly followed the butler into the inner quarters.

"I shall hurry and inform the old master."

The butler led Yoo Geung and me to an empty room and disappeared.

A moment later, I heard a presence outside the room.

"Your Highness. It is General So Ik-Gyeom."

It seemed he wasn't lying when he said he'd bring him quickly.

"Come in."

As soon as I said that, the door opened, and my grandfather appeared.

Just as I had seen him last time, his face was stiff and cold. He appeared with an expressionless face, looking straight ahead. His eyes quietly rolled towards me and scanned me up and down.

Just like last time, my grandfather was openly evaluating me.

"What have you been up to?"

If written down, it would surely be a polite question, but hearing it from my grandfather, it didn't sound polite at all. I had almost gotten into a scuffle with a scoundrel, so my appearance wasn't as neat as before. By "before," I mean my appearance at the palace.

I could have let it slide, but my grandfather's distrust wouldn't allow it.

"I made some enemies."

"What do you mean by that?"

My grandfather's face hardened. His eyes seemed to be cursing at me, telling me to cut the nonsense. If I were a weak-hearted person, I might have been hurt.

But my heart was not weak; it was strong. It was a strong heart forged through begging. Thanks to my strong heart, I wasn't hurt.

"Your Highness."

My grandfather spoke in a scolding tone.

Like Yoo Geung, my grandfather didn't respond to jokes, making him equally uninteresting.

"Just, you know. I beat up a scoundrel I met on the street."

Then my grandfather's eyebrows twitched. It seemed he wasn't taking my words literally. Had I done something wrong somewhere?

Objectively speaking, without any personal bias, what I had done on my way here was definitely not a bad thing. I was on the verge of sputtering in disbelief, but my reputation as a troublemaker preceded me, silencing any protests I might have made.

Meanwhile, Yoo Geung was fidgeting beside me like a dog that needed to poop.

"... E-Excuse me, General."

Suddenly, Yoo Geung spoke up. It was extremely rare for the rigid Yoo Geung to speak out of turn, especially in front of the General.

"If I may speak boldly, His Highness rescued a child from the Geomgye."

Yoo Geung continued, cautiously.

"...So, please don't say such things."

What was this? Was Yoo Geung taking my side?

Wow. Surprising, isn't it?

But I kept my admiration to myself. As a result, all three of us - me, my grandfather, and Yoo Geung - fell silent. The silence lingered.

This is awkward.

I cleared my throat and tried to change the subject.

"I came here at your summons, Grandfather, but must I be scolded first?"

Then I nudged him to try and get him to bow.

My grandfather sighed and greeted me.

"Have you been well?"

"I've been fine. Why wouldn't I be? Have you been well, Grandfather?"

My grandfather bowed his head.

"Yes, Your Highness. I am grateful."

"You certainly look well."

In truth, his complexion didn't look very good. He seemed tired.

My grandfather, who had been standing by the door, came over and sat down in front of me.

A moment later, another set of footsteps sounded from outside the door. It wasn't the butler or a servant; it was a rather peculiar gait. The kind of walk that didn't care about others' opinions. No one in their right mind would walk like that in front of General So, so it was the kind of footsteps meant to be heard.

As I looked at the door in bewilderment, my grandfather spoke.

"This is the reason I invited Your Highness today."

I blinked, pondering the identity of this peculiar person outside.

A servant? No.

A subordinate? No.

His wife? That couldn't be.

"I'll enter."

A soft voice, a light tone. It was clear even from a cursory glance that this was no mere subordinate of my grandfather. Just as this thought crossed my mind, the door swung open again, unbidden. As expected, this was a rather peculiar person.

I looked down at their feet. Unlike the rushed footsteps from a moment ago, it was a graceful gait.

"I greet First Prince Ikwon."

I raised my head.

As our eyes met, the person smiled faintly. Their flamboyant attire caught my eye first, but their gender was ambiguous. It was the first time I had met someone whose gender was confusing. At least there was no one this peculiar at Blood Cloud Fortress.

"I didn't expect you to come in person."

"Why? You told me to come."

"I thought otherwise because I hadn't received a reply to my letter. My apologies."

Hearing that, I immediately understood. It wasn't my grandfather who had summoned me, but this person. If my grandfather had written a letter on their behalf to summon me, it meant they were quite close. But this person was too young to be my grandfather's friend. Even if my grandfather was open-minded enough to disregard age in forming friendships, this was quite a significant age difference.

"...Hmm."

If that was the case, then this person wasn't someone I could neglect just because they were close to my grandfather. Not that I had any intention of doing so, of course.

And this person was remarkably at ease in my presence. They carried themselves with a boldness that bordered on impertinence. Was this their true nature? Were they also a troublemaker? Were they originally close to the First Prince? If so, even if my grandfather didn't mention it, Eunuch Han would have at least hinted at it, but I had never heard anything like that.

Even if I was a troublemaker, could they treat me so casually when I was a prince of this nation...?

I gestured towards an empty seat.

"Have a seat first."

"I am honored."

They said they were honored, but they didn't look honored at all. In this aspect, they were similar to my grandfather. Were they really a friend of my grandfather's? Anyway, I wasn't offended that they weren't genuinely honored. It was enough that they said it, wasn't it? I wasn't that rigid. It's good to live life with a relaxed attitude.

Speaking of a relaxed attitude, I beckoned Yoo Geung to sit down as well. As a bodyguard, he should be standing by the door, but how could one be so heartless? Following my relaxed gesture, Yoo Geung awkwardly took a seat.

After Yoo Geung sat down beside me, a servant brought refreshments.

"Allow me to pour you a cup."

The person of unknown identity and even unknown gender carefully held their flamboyant sleeve and poured tea into a cup.

"Oh, thank you."

As I said that without much thought, my grandfather glanced at me with a strange expression, as if he had seen something bizarre.

What? What is it?

"Do you remember me?"

Pitter-patter.

The yellow tea filled the jade-colored teacup. At the same time, white steam rose from it.

"Hmm."

I tried to divert their attention by pretending to drink tea. But the gazes of the three people present were fixed on me like nails. I looked down at the tea, trying to appear calm, and thought.

I'm curious too.

Who are you?

But how would I know?

However, the meaning of those words was clear: this person and I had met before.

I searched my mind, hoping to grasp at straws, but my head was empty.

Oh... Damn it.

How would I know you...?

...You...

As I sighed inwardly, another question came flying at me.

"You don't remember me?"

Oh, this is driving me crazy.